Ales Hemsky led the Czech Republic in scoring with three goals and four points at the Sochi Olympics. Despite only playing 12 minutes a game, he showed NHL general managers that if he plays with offensive players he can still produce.

Did his Olympic performance increase his trade value?

I don't like writing about a player being traded. I don't look at them as commodities and I realize that getting dealt involves more than just the player. I don't take it lightly, but I understand it is part of the job.

I've always been a fan of Hemsky. Last June Craig MacTavish said, "in an ideal scenario" Hemsky and Shawn Horcoff would be traded. Horcoff was eventually moved to Dallas, while MacTavish stated he couldn't find a fair deal for Hemsky and welcomed him back to Edmonton at training camp.

I wrote this about Hemsky last summer.

For the past decade Hemsky has been the most exciting player on the Edmonton Oilers. For many, he will be remembered as a guy who didn't reach his full potential, but I loved watching him play. Up until the arrival of Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Nail Yakupov, the only player who could bring Oiler fans out of their seats on a nightly basis was Hemsky.

He was a joy to watch. He was the only Oiler who could consistently beat defenders one-on-one, and for most of his tenure he had to face the opposition's best defenders. He was fearless, never shied away from contact and that was the main reason he missed 189 games during his 10 years in Edmonton.

Hemsky is one of the most naturally gifted players in the NHL, and I firmly believe, if he worked on his game like the great players do, he could have been a truly dominant player. I wish he would have worked on his one-timer and shooting after practice, but he didn't. While you wish he would have worked harder after practice, it would be incorrect to suggest he didn't play hard during the games.

Hemsky was a baller. I'll always remember Ethan Moreau, who stayed in the NHL on pure guts and effort, telling me this about Hemsky. "He goes into areas I never would. He's not scared of anyone, and that's why sometimes he gets hit hard, because he doesn't back down."

Today's game is all about speed. If you don't have speed you won't last, and Hemsky is one of the most underrated skaters in the game.

It would be easy to chastise Hemsky and applaud his upcoming departure out of Edmonton, but I won't. Hemsky wasn't perfect, but since he arrived in Edmonton in the fall of 2002 he's been the most electrifying, and at times frustrating, player Oiler fans had the pleasure of watching.

Hemsky was never comfortable talking on the record. He didn't like doing interviews, but when we just sat down to shoot the breeze he was much more engaging. Hemsky grew up in Edmonton. He fell in love in Edmonton, and he always spoke highly of the city.

I've always admired Hemsky's abilities. He is one of the few players who skates as fast with that puck as he does without it. He can still undress some of the best players in the game, like he did vs. Duncan Keith in Chicago on January 12th, and I believe his Olympic performance will increase his trade value.

I've spoke to numerous scouts and general managers the past few months, and when I ask them about Hemsky they all rave about his speed and offensive creativity. He has value, and as the deadline approaches his stock will continue to increase.

Dallas Eakins hasn't used Hemksy in an offensive role very often this year, and his stats have suffered, but he can still be productive in a top-six role.

The Oilers have Jordan Eberle and Nail Yakupov as top line right wingers, and I don't see any reason why Hemsky would avoid testing free agency and re-sign in Edmonton just to be a third line winger. Because of that, I expect MacTavish will move him before March 5th.

TRADE VALUE?

Hemsky's trade value mirrors his perception amongst Oilers fans. Some think he won't attract more than a 3rd rounder, while others feel he could land the Oilers a first round pick or a solid prospect. I'd lean more towards the latter.

Teams overpay at the deadline just like they do in free agency. It happens every year, and I don't see this year being any different. Here's a quick look at some recent trade deadline deals that garnered a decent return.

Toronto trades Kris Versteeg to Philadelphia for a 1st and 3rd rounder.

Ottawa trades Mike Fisher to Nashville for a 1st rounder and a conditional draft pick.

Also during that time Dominic Moore has been traded three different times, and each time he was dealt for a 2nd rounder. Hemsky is a much better player than Moore, and should garner a better return than a 2nd round pick.

COST

Hemsky has a $5 million cap hit, but on March 5th his cap hit would be just over $1 million. The Oilers could offer to pay half his cap hit, because they have cap space, and that means more teams would be in the mix to acquire him.

The Oilers have put themselves in a position where trading Hemsky is the only option. They could keep him and hope to re-sign him, but that would be a huge risk. Hemsky didn't test the free agent market two years ago, and at 30 years of age he will never get another chance to see what type of contract he could get during the free agent frenzy.

All the arrows point to Hemsky being dealt. I wish him well, and with only five teams currently out of the playoff picture MacTavish should be able to negotiate a solid trade.

WRAP UP

I see no other option than trading Hemsky, but I'm still not a fan of trading proven NHL talent for just prospects or picks, because there is no guarantee those assets will pan out. One of the big mistakes that perennial losers make is that they trade away proven NHL talent for "maybes."

The Oilers have two young right-wingers who they feel are top-six forwards so Hemsky is expendable, but if the return is only draft picks, then the Oilers will lose the trade for at least three years, and possibly forever if the picks don't pan out.

That is the risk in dealing away 30-year-old veterans, but due to his pending free agency it is their only option. The pressure will be on the scouting staff to turn the pick(s) into NHL players.

One of Canada's most versatile sports personalities. Jason hosts The Jason Gregor Show, weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m., on TSN 1260, and he writes a column every Monday in the Edmonton Journal. You can follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JasonGregor

What a performance by our Canadian girls to beat US for gold!!!!!They now about wining if there is a concern! They gave it all they got unlike NHL professionals. Thank you Old boys club, I am out from this garbage product you providing.....

What a performance by our Canadian girls to beat US for gold!!!!!They now about wining if there is a concern! They gave it all they got unlike NHL professionals. Thank you Old boys club, I am out from this garbage product you providing.....

They don't have to flood the ice for the next game,all those American tears took care of it!!

He plays half effort? Have you watched any of the games this year? If you said Hall, Ebs, or Yak played half effort I would say yes as they do not play the defensive side of the game at all and have mailed in a number of games.

You don't get it!

Players are not from a cookie cutter. Some have more abilities than others.

Hemsky is a player that has ooddles of offensive ability but only uses it half of the time.

He's become a slacker and that wears off onto other players.

He's mentally burnt out from being on a loser team for soooooo long(thanks KL).

Edmonton already passed up the chance to draft Boone Jenner for David Musil, sigh. How many left shooting defence prospects do we need? Seriously, we've got Klefbom, Marincin, Nurse, Musil, Gernat, Davidson, Simpson, Betker, Gustafsson, Hunt, and Laleggia listed on the Oilers website. Only one right shooting defenceman listed on the Oilers site as a prospect - Fedun. WTF! Something smells fishy to me.

Nepotism rears it's ugly head in the Oilers organization again, as Frank Musil is a scout for the team.

The problem is he plays most games at half effort. If he played all out, every game, he would be on the first line.

He plays half effort? Have you watched any of the games this year? If you said Hall, Ebs, or Yak played half effort I would say yes as they do not play the defensive side of the game at all and have mailed in a number of games.

I'm not as convinced that a trade is necessary, but I certainly agree that it is highly likely.

The alternatives are there, esp. if any of Gagner, Perron, Yakupov or Eberle get traded.

On his value… you never can tell, especially with polarizing figures like Hemsky. But, I think it is worthwhile returning to this Bruce Garrioch piece from earlier in the year:

The Oilers need help everywhere, however, teams are asking for young players in return. “They want to do something but they overrate their players which means the prices are high,” said a league executive. He should be able to get a top pick for UFA RW Ales Hemsky

Makes sense now. I hadn't read that article. I can see why LT would want him here, but Hemsky won't avoid UFA status to be a 3rd liner.

There is no good reason to resign him, Its time to move on, he had a couple of good games in socchi, but we all have seen this song and dance before, he lacks the consisent effort. Theres a reason he hasnt been traded yet, and thats because no team will pay what Mact thinks hes worth. Nobody will pay a 1st rounder for him,

While its true that Oilers fans often inflate Oiler player values in trade hypotheticals I find there are an equal amount of people who do the exact opposite.

People sometimes need to listen to themselves.

I've heard repeatedly about Hemsky "whos going to trade anything for our crap?" It makes me sick. First off its somehow disregarding the entire idea of what the deadline repeatedly does: Top teams raiding bottom teams for vets and defensemen. Just because someones on a bottom team doesnt automatically make them a bottom barrel player.

Secondly, if we take a legit look at Hesmky as a player we find someone who provides a lot of value. The biggest knock to his value is his injury history not his abilities as a player.

I'd love to see him dealt to a contending team. As a Hemsky fan, it would be nice for his sake to see him play meaningful playoff games & for ours to watch what he can do. Prefect world: MacT gets a very good - great return for him and then resigns him in the summer.

Edmonton already passed up the chance to draft Boone Jenner for David Musil, sigh. How many left shooting defence prospects do we need? Seriously, we've got Klefbom, Marincin, Nurse, Musil, Gernat, Davidson, Simpson, Betker, Gustafsson, Hunt, and Laleggia listed on the Oilers website. Only one right shooting defenceman listed on the Oilers site as a prospect - Fedun. WTF! Something smells fishy to me.

Nepotism rears it's ugly head in the Oilers organization again, as Frank Musil is a scout for the team.

Is Musil still scouting? I thought he was coaching now? At any rate I couldn't agree more.

I'm really just thinking out loud at what it would take to get Jenner? I'm not sure Gagner gets the deal done but could be a start.

You'd have to think Boston noticed how good Hemsky and Krejci looked together. That was a good pairing which created a lot of chances and they had instant chemistry. Boston would make a great trading partner with the Oilers depending on what they have for picks and prospects.

Boston fairly solid on the right side: Iginla,Smith,Erikson, besides I dont think Hemsky is a Boston type player..... first I am going to knock out two of your teeth , then I will drive you through the boards...

Agree with everything you said in your blog Gregor. Hemsky is a dynamic player and it's kind of a shame he's on his way out. Although I still think there is the possibility of Ebs or Yak being traded for a #1 d-man.

The pressure is definitely on the pro scouting staff, they need to get a player on the cusp of the NHL, not another draft pick. The trade I'd push for is to Pittsburgh for their young d-man Simon Despres, personally I think he's on the verge of making it to the NHL. It's time trade assets for assets, not pipe dreams!

I agree, MacTavish may get more for Hemsky than anyone anticipates. However, I see virtually no chance of him re-signing here. He has played 11 years in the NHL, made the playoffs twice, missed 8 years in a row. I don't think he enjoys beating his head against this brick wall of team. Money? How many millions does a person need to be happy? At a certain point I think a player longs to go where the team might succeed and/or he will be appreciated.

PS: As I watch the ex NHL coaches involved in Olympic hockey (Krueger, Dineen, Nolan) I keep asking myself, I wonder where the Oilers would be if one of those guys was coaching the team?

PPS: The happiest person in Sochi right now is the Czech linesman (lineswoman?) who body-checked the Canadian player leading to that long shot on the empty net...which hit the post. Justice was served. Canadian women rule!

I think Hemsky to the ducks would make alot of sense. That roster has a few players that Ales played with in Edmonton. I believe the ducks have room under the salary cap. Not sure if they need him and not sure of what they have to offer, just a thought.

I have long contended the Oilers should try to pry Jenner out of Columbus. Strong on faceoffs, abrasive,good size, a tireless worker and an effective scorer in his junior career. I would move Gagner in that trade.

I have long contended the Oilers should try to pry Jenner out of Columbus. Strong on faceoffs, abrasive,good size, a tireless worker and an effective scorer in his junior career. I would move Gagner in that trade.

Anyone who takes losing like this I would do whatever it takes to get that player on my team!

I actually don't mind trading UFAs for picks, playoff teams won't trade players and id rather not receive failed prospects. Take the picks when teams trade them away with ease and use them at the draft to trade for legit players when teams are wanting picks (and they are at their highest value) and done teams are looking to shed cap.

"Hemsky has a $5 million cap hit, but on March 5th his cap hit would be just over $1 million. The Oilers could offer to pay half his cap hit, because they have cap space, and that means more teams would be in the mix to acquire him".

Question: I've always wondered - does this mean the Oilers actually pay 1/2 the outgoing player's salary (and in so doing that salary gets charged to their cap) or does it mean that the other team pays the full salary but the Oilers can retain part of the cap hit as partial consideration for the trade?

"The Oilers have Jordan Eberle and Nail Yakupov as top line right wingers, and I don't see any reason why Hemsky would avoid testing free agency and re-sign in Edmonton just to be a third line winger. Because of that, I expect MacTavish will move him before March 5th."

Gregor, are you trying to pick a fight with Lowetide? If so you should stage it in the CTV parking lot and sell tickets to raise money for charity.